WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) will award the Greater Portland Council of Governments $113,500 to aid in the implementation of the Greater Portland Sustainable Food Production Cluster and support the continued development of Maine’s local food network.

“Maine has seen very encouraging growth in the local food sector, and that growth has rippled throughout our communities and made our economy stronger,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. “The grant funding will support this innovative project as it develops strategies to continue the momentum and strengthen Maine’s thriving local food movement.”

The Greater Portland Sustainable Food Production Cluster aims to grow the local food system in Maine by scaling up manufacturing operations, finding new markets for and adding value to wasted raw food, increasing global markets for Maine food, and replacing imported food and manufacturing products with goods from the state.

This funding is through the EDA’s Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership program, which is designed to increase international trade and exports and bolster manufacturing in communities nationwide by supporting the development of long-term economic development strategies that help communities attract and expand private investment in the manufacturing sector. In May 2014, the Department of Commerce announced that the Greater Portland Council of Governments was selected as one of twelve communities to be designated under the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership program. 

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is a bureau within the Department of Commerce.

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